About Us
Our Directors
Elijah Mpho Gumbi
- CEO
“You’re only limited by your thoughts!”
Mpho Elijah Gumbi – here-on known as Elijah. Elijah is best described as an individual with great vision and foresight, unshakable love for sports and more specifically, motorsport. Elijah has been exposed to an NGO called Food Gardens Foundation growing up where his mother worked and this has allowed him to have a clear understanding to the importance of philanthropy and the hope one gives when developing a community. Elijah exposed and graduating in motorsport has come about as a result of a development program hosted by Mercedes -Benz South Africa is engrossed in developing the youth as drivers and technicians in high power, high-pressure sport!
Elijah has always been very interested in sports playing and succeeding in school sports such as cricket, soccer and athletics. Safe to say sport and competition is his passion.
Currently, Elijah owns a sporting team called Squadra Corse, which is involved in activities of motor racing.
His passion to succeed in the sport as a driver and now as a coach to the drivers, mechanics and technicians. Elijah has pushed the boundaries of opportunity and has lead a driver by the name Sisa Ngebulana and many others abroad to race. These experiences aided him to learn from the top tier teams in Formula 1. Namely a 2 years stint at Mclaren and now lately Redbull Racing. At the very least, it’s set a few high levels of professionalism.
Elijah took a novice driver, developed him, aided his opportunities abroad and adequately supported him. We would like to do more!
Elijah has the understanding that through sport and competition true life traits can be passed on and learnt by the youth. Thus his vision is one of a revolutionary substance for the rural areas of South Africa, by providing a platform for sports to happen and through these mediums, we can engage the youth positively by results of participation and competition!
Richard Phakiso Makwela
- CFO
“Every day should be an extension of your truest self!”
As a co-founder of RisingStar Foundation, Richard Phakiso Makwela understands that with motivation, hard work & a platform this leads to self-actualisation. Having studied Marketing, Economics & Public Relations holding qualifications respectively in those fields he has spent the 10 years in the Retail FMCG, Marketing and Merchandising sector & two years in Distribution.
Now turned Entrepreneur for the past five years founder of Makwela Tlou Group and Alicey, part of his personal mission is to make a change, and more so leave transformation within the RisingStar footprint and work.
He is a firm believer that daily we ought to update our thinking and come about with new solutions, & with a blend of sporting programs and entrepreneurial activities this may bring about a fusion of change youth behaviour & the overall socio-economic in-equalities faced. Raised in Polokwane there is an emergence of youth trying to discover new means of progression and influence.
Refilwe Lefakane
- COO
“Making a difference begins with a single step!”
Refilwe Lefakane has an LLB from University of the Witwatersrand and is an Admitted Attorney who worked as a Legal Adviser for over five (5) years at the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
During her tenure she worked in the Litigation and Legislative Compliance Department wherein she acquired experience in Corporate Governance; Commercial litigation; Contractual drafting; Labour law; Family Law; Procurement Law; Intellectual property Law; Broadcasting law; Media Law; Competition Law and Criminal Law.
Refilwe has always been passionate about the accessibility of legal resources and the development of the children’s rights in South Africa.
She has since resigned to create her own legacy and find her philanthropic spirit.
It was with this ideology that Mafanikio Legal, Compliance and Governance Consultancy was established, a boutique Legal Consultancy that seeks to address the legal challenges SME’s are exposed to.
Refilwe went on to establish Kelejoang Knowledge Hub NPO which provides free legal resources to the community.
The urge to promote children’s rights is close to her heart and RisingStar Foundation could not have been a more opportune platform.
Refilwe wishes to ensure that the interests of each child RisingStar Foundation cross paths with will be encouraged in any of the performing arts.
She further wishes that this platform will provide free access to children to be educated about their rights and recourse.
Let the journey begin…
Elijah Mpho Gumbi
- CEO
“You’re only limited by your thoughts!”
Mpho Elijah Gumbi – here-on known as Elijah. Elijah is best described as an individual with great vision and foresight, unshakable love for sports and more specifically, motorsport. Elijah has been exposed to an NGO called Food Gardens Foundation growing up where his mother worked and this has allowed him to have a clear understanding to the importance of philanthropy and the hope one gives when developing a community. Elijah exposed and graduating in motorsport has come about as a result of a development program hosted by Mercedes -Benz South Africa is engrossed in developing the youth as drivers and technicians in high power, high-pressure sport!
Elijah has always been very interested in sports playing and succeeding in school sports such as cricket, soccer and athletics. Safe to say sport and competition is his passion.
Currently, Elijah owns a sporting team called Squadra Corse, which is involved in activities of motor racing.
His passion to succeed in the sport as a driver and now as a coach to the drivers, mechanics and technicians. Elijah has pushed the boundaries of opportunity and has lead a driver by the name Sisa Ngebulana and many others abroad to race. These experiences aided him to learn from the top tier teams in Formula 1. Namely a 2 years stint at Mclaren and now lately Redbull Racing. At the very least, it’s set a few high levels of professionalism.
Elijah took a novice driver, developed him, aided his opportunities abroad and adequately supported him. We would like to do more!
Elijah has the understanding that through sport and competition true life traits can be passed on and learnt by the youth. Thus his vision is one of a revolutionary substance for the rural areas of South Africa, by providing a platform for sports to happen and through these mediums, we can engage the youth positively by results of participation and competition!
Richard Phakiso Makwela
- CFO
“Every day should be an extension of your truest self!”
As a co-founder of RisingStar Foundation, Richard Phakiso Makwela understands that with motivation, hard work & a platform this leads to self-actualisation. Having studied Marketing, Economics & Public Relations holding qualifications respectively in those fields he has spent the 10 years in the Retail FMCG, Marketing and Merchandising sector & two years in Distribution.
Now turned Entrepreneur for the past five years founder of Makwela Tlou Group and Alicey, part of his personal mission is to make a change, and more so leave transformation within the RisingStar footprint and work.
He is a firm believer that daily we ought to update our thinking and come about with new solutions, & with a blend of sporting programs and entrepreneurial activities this may bring about a fusion of change youth behaviour & the overall socio-economic in-equalities faced. Raised in Polokwane there is an emergence of youth trying to discover new means of progression and influence.
Refilwe Lefakane
- COO
“Making a difference begins with a single step!”
Refilwe Lefakane has an LLB from University of the Witwatersrand and is an Admitted Attorney who worked as a Legal Adviser for over five (5) years at the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
During her tenure she worked in the Litigation and Legislative Compliance Department wherein she acquired experience in Corporate Governance; Commercial litigation; Contractual drafting; Labour law; Family Law; Procurement Law; Intellectual property Law; Broadcasting law; Media Law; Competition Law and Criminal Law.
Refilwe has always been passionate about the accessibility of legal resources and the development of the children’s rights in South Africa.
She has since resigned to create her own legacy and find her philanthropic spirit.
It was with this ideology that Mafanikio Legal, Compliance and Governance Consultancy was established, a boutique Legal Consultancy that seeks to address the legal challenges SME’s are exposed to.
Refilwe went on to establish Kelejoang Knowledge Hub NPO which provides free legal resources to the community.
The urge to promote children’s rights is close to her heart and RisingStar Foundation could not have been a more opportune platform.
Refilwe wishes to ensure that the interests of each child RisingStar Foundation cross paths with will be encouraged in any of the performing arts.
She further wishes that this platform will provide free access to children to be educated about their rights and recourse.
Let the journey begin…